Groundbreaking for Sandy Creek Estates coming at last

Tuesday

Aug 12, 2014 at 1:05 PM

Most of 32 homes in first phase of long-awaited new tract sold already, but some are still available

Doug KeelerMidway Driller Editor

Groundbreaking for Colston Construction's Sandy Creek Estates Development will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m.It will mark the end of a 10-year struggle to develop housing tract on the west side of Hillard Street and, hopefully, the beginning of a residential building boom that finally pump new life into the community's economy.The groundbreaking will be held at Hillard Street and Rails to Trails, the edge of the first phase of the project.There are 32 homes in the opening phase and nearly 400 could eventually be built in the large vacant area. While many of the homes have been reserved, the first phase has not been sold out and Colston still has homes to sell.Contact Colston Construction at 661-201-2087 for more informationFencing went up more than a a week ago and two antelope squirrels, small, chipmunk-like rodents were found in the area. The squirrels, considered an endangered species were one of the primary factors in the decade-long delay.Provisions had to be made for disturbing an area considered a habitat before permits to start the project could be issued.Finally, though, Colston got the permission he needed from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to go ahead. The only thing that remains to be done is to trap and relocate two antelope squirrels still on the eight-acre parcel.